CHILDHOOD sweethearts Doug and Gwen Hands have celebrated 60 years of happy marriage with friends and family in Droitwich.

Gwen was just 14 when she first began courting 16-year-old Doug and they married on December 19, 1942 at St Anne's Church, Cotteridge, Birmingham.

Gwen was working in Woolworths, in Northfield, before her big day and colleagues and customers rallied round to donate ration coupons, just managing to scrape enough together to buy material for her white wedding.

Despite the hardships of war the couple still had a three-tier cake - albeit chocolate - and the two returned to their jobs in an ammunition factory the next day.

The doting couple both worked for British Leyland, now MG Rover at Longbridge and having lived in Rubery, they eventually moved to Berrill Close in Droitwich 28 years ago.

After leaving British Leyland, Gwen worked in a variety of jobs in Droitwich until the age of 72, before finally retiring at 79.

"We have lots of friends and family to socialise with and Droitwich is a very friendly place to live in," she said.

Eighty-one-year-old Doug's main hobby is building models out of matchsticks, while his wife loves settling down with her knitting needles.

On Friday, December 20, they held an anniversary party at Droitwich Spa Workingmen's Club, Friar Street.

"We were just meant to be," said Gwen.

"Marriage has been good for us any my advice to anyone considering a long-term relationship is to always be there for each other - whatever."